IN 1853 LAWLESSNESS IN NUECES COUNTY, WHICH COVERED MOST OF THE AREA FROM CORPUS CHRISTI TO THE MEXICAN BORDER, PROMPTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST COUNTY COURTHOUSE ON THIS BLOCK THREE LOTS WERE PURCHASED FOR $300 FROM CORPUS CHRIS-IT FOUNDER, HENRY LAWRENCE KINNEY (1814-1865). A SECOND COURTHOUSE WAS BUILT IN THE MID-1870s BESIDE THE FIRST.

UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF COUNTY JUDGE WALTER F. TIMON (1872-1952), THIS NEOCLASSICAL STRUCTURE WAS COMPLETED IN 1914 AT A COST OF $250,000. THE ARCHITECT, HARVEY L. PAGE (1859-1934) OF WASHINGTON, D.C., DESIGNED THE INTERNATIONAL & GREAT NORTHERN RAILROAD STATION IN SAN ANTONIO AND LAGUNA GLORIA IN AUSTIN, HOME OF FORMER CORPUS CHRISTI RESIDENT CLARA DRISCOLL.

ADDITIONS WERE MADE TO THE BUILDINGS IN THE 1930s AND 1960s. COURTROOMS AND OFFICES WERE ON THE FIRST FOUR FLOORS. THE TOP TWO FLOORS, SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE BUILDING BY AN AIR SPACE TO ELIMINATE NOISE, SERVED AS THE JAIL. IN ADDITION TO GOVERNMENT OFFICES, APARTMENTS WERE PROVIDED UNTIL THE 1950s FOR THE JAILER AND OTHER COUNTY OFFICIALS. DURING STORMS WHICH ALMOST LEVELED THE CITY, HUNDREDS OF REFUGEES SOUGHT SHELTER HERE. IN 1977 COUNTY OFFICES MOVED TO THE NEW COURTHOUSE BUILDING.

RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK - 1978
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HJSTORJC PLACES - 1976